Confessional signalling system



May 21, 1957 A. J. STATTELMAN CONFESSIONAL SIGNALLING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 7, 1956 mbi ama r 2,793,358 CONFESSIONAL SIGNALLING SYSTEM' Arthur J. Stattelman, Ames, Iowa Application February 7, 1956, Serial No. 563,919

2 Claims. (Cl. 340-258) This invention relates to' signalling systems for confessionals, as utilized in Catholic churches, and more particularly to an automatic signalling system to indicate the occupancy of a confessional;

A main object of the invention is to provide an improved confessional, for use in Catholic churches, said confessional being provided with automatic means to indicate the occupancy thereof, the improved confessional involving relatively simple electrcal Components which are easy to install, providing reliable indcations, whcreby a pentent is informed as to whether a priest is in the confessional for the purpose of hearing confessions, and whereby an automatic indication is provided if penitents are occupying the confessional.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im proved occupancy signalling system for confessionals as employed in Catholic churches, the signalling system involvng inexpensve components, being easy to maintain in working condition, and providing a reliable means of indicating whether a priest is in the confessor@ compart-` ment of the confessional and as to whether the penitents' compartments of the confessional are occupied or unoccupied, the system being automatic in operation and requiring only that the priest place the system in operation when he enters the confessor's compartment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved occupancy indicating system for an enclosure, said system being stable inoperation, being useful for a wide range of occupancy indicating purposes, and being particularly useful in confessionals, as employed in Catholic Churches.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a confessional constructed in accordance with the present invention and being provided with an improved occupancy indicating system according to this invention. I

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Fgure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken through the confessional of Figure 1 on the line 5-5 of said figure.

Figure 6 is a schematic wirng diagram showing th electrcal connections of the occupancy indicating circuit employed in the confessional of Figures 1 to 5. i

Referrng to the drawngs, 11 generally designatesa confessional according to the present invention, said confessional being provided with a confessor's enclosure 12 and respective penitents enclosures 13 and 14 located on opposite sides of the confessor's enclosure 12 and having respective walls`15 and 16 common with; the confessor's enclosure 12. The wall 15 is provided with' the.

nited States PatentO *of approximately 300,()00 ohms.

usual window 17 provided with a suitable screen or grille 18, and the wall 16 is provided with a similar window 19 provided with a screen or grille 20, as is commonly employed in confessionals. Designated at 21 is the common front wall of the enclosures 12, 13 and 14, the front wall being provided with a first penitenfs door 22 located in the front wall of the enclosure 13, a second penitent's door 23 located in the front Wall of the enclosure 14, and a confessor's door 25 located in the front wall of the confessor's enclosure 12.

The confessor 's enclosure 12 is provided with the usual bench 26, located adjacent the back wall of the confessor's compartment 12. The penitent's compartment 13 is provided with the usual kneeling platform 27 located adjacent the wall 15 and with the usual sill 28 located subjacent the-window 17 above the kneeling platform '27. Similarly, the penitent's compartment 14 is provided with the kneeling platform 29 located adjacent the wall 16, and with the praying sill 30 located subjacent the window 19.

Mounted above the door 25, for example, in the door frame thereof is a first occupancy signal lamp 31, preferably of a distinctive color such as green. Mounted above the door 22 in the same manner s a signal lamp 32 of a different distinctive color, such as red. A similar red signal lamp 33 is mounted above the penitenfs door 23.

The main unit of theautonatic occupancy signalling system is contained in a housing 34 which may be located in any desirable position, for example, beneath the confessofs bench 26, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and- 5. The unit 34 comprises a conventional power supply 35 which is energized from a pair of line wires 36 and 37 connected to the usual alternating current lighting circuit. The supply Wire 37 contains a main control switch 38 which is located in the confessor's compartment 12 and is closed by the priest as soon as he enters the confessor's compartment, to place the occupancy indicating system of the confessional in operation. As is shown in Figure 6, the confessor occupancy lamp 31 is connected between line wire 36 and the load side of the switch 38, so that when the switch 38 is closed, the lamp 31 is connected between the line wires 36- and 37 and becomes illuminated, indicating that a priest is present in the confessor's compartment 12. f

The power supply 35 comprises a conventional power transformer 39 whose primary is connected to-the line wires 36 and 37 by the respective wires 41 and 42. Said primary is connected in parallel with the confessor compartment occupancy lamp 31-, so that the primary becomes energized at the same time as said lamp 31, namely, by the closure of the switch 38. Transformer 39 is provided with the filament energizing secondary 43, the rectifier filament supply secondary 44, and the plate supply secondary 45. A rectifier tube 46 of the full wave type is connected in the conventional manner, the filament of the tube being connected to the secondary 44 and the plate of the tube being connected to the terminals of the secondary 45, the center tap of the secondary 45 being connected to a common ground wire 47. The center tap of the filament secondary 44 is connected to a positive output voltage wire 48, the wire 48 being connected to an output wire 49 through the conventional filter choke' 50, respective filter condensers 51 and 52 being connected between the terminals of the choke 50 and the ground Wire 49 is connected through a reof relatively high value, for example, having a resistance R s o 5 ha a, r l

tvely low resistance, for example, 8300 ohms, and the resistor 55 similarly has a resistance of the same order as resistor 53, for example 10,000 ohms. Connected in series between the wires 54- and 47 are respective identical resistor-s` 58 and 59' of relatively high value, for ex ample,ieach having avalue of 1.5 megohms. Designated respectively at 60 and 61 are voltage regulator tubes which are respectively` connected across th'e resistors 58' and 59, in the manner illustrated, so as to regulate' the voltage between the wires 54 and 47 and also to accurately regulate the voltageacross' the resistorsand 59. The voltage regulator tubes 60- and 61 are conventional gas filled tubes, the anode of the tube 60- being connected` to" the wire^54, the c'athode of the tube 60 being' connected to the anodecf the tube 61 and to the junction between the resistors 58' and 59,' and the' cathode of the tube 6-1 being, connected to= the groundwire 47, as illustrated in Figure 6.

A resistor- 62, identical to the resistor 55, is connected between wire 54 and an output wire 63, as shown. Designated' at 64 isa first current-responsive relay comprising the winding 65, the armature 66 and the stationary contact 67, the armature 66 engaging the contact 67 responsive to deenergization of the` winding 65. As shown, contact 67 is connected to line wire 36 and armature 66 is connected to cne terminal of the penitent's lanp 33 by a wire 68. The other terminal of the penitenfs lamp 33- is connected to the load side of the switch' 38 by a wire 69. One terminal of relaywinding 65 is connected to the ground wire 47. The other terminal of` relay winding 65 is connected by' a wire 70 to the cathode of a gasdischarge tube 71 of the thyrat'on type. The anode of tube 71 is connected to the wire 56-. Tube 71 is normally conducting, but will become extinguished when the voltage drop across the resistor 55 rises above a predetermined value, namely, whenthe current in the wire 56 rises above a predeterrnned` value, since this produces a corresponding drop in the potential between the anode and cathode of the dischargetube 71 As will be' readily apparent, when tube 71 becomes non-conducting, the winding 65 of relay 64 is deenergized, causing armature 66 to engage contact 67', thus energizing the penitent's lamp 33, since the terminals of lamp 33 are thus connected to'the line wires 36 and 37.

Designated at 72 is another current-rcsponsive relay, similar to the relay 64 and having the winding 73, the stationary contact '74 and the armature 75, the armature 75 being movable into engagement with` the contact 74 responsive to deenergization of winding 73. One terminal of winding 73 is connected to the ground wire 47. The other terminal of winding 73 is connected by a wire 76 to the cathode of a gas discharge tube 77, similar to the tube 71. The anode of tube 77 is connected to the wire 63. The stationary contact 74 is connected to the line wire 36. The armature 75 is connected` by a wire 78 to one terminal of the penitent's lamp 32. The other terminal of lamp 32 is connected by a wire 79 to the wire 69. Tube 77 is normally conducting, but stops conducting when a predetermined voltage drop develops across the resistor 62, namely, when the current in the wire 63 rises above a predetermined value, thus producng a sufficient reduction in potential across the anode and cathode of tube 77 to extinguish the tube; When tube 77 stops conducting, the winding 73 is deenergized, causing armature 75 to engage contact 74, thus energizing penitent's lamp 72 from the line wires 36 and 37, assuming the switch 38 to be closed, as would be necessary in order to energize the power. supply 35.

Designated respectively at 80 and` 81 are sensing units which are mounted in the respective penitents' compare ments 13 and 14, said sensing units being contained in suitable housings which may be Secured in any suitable location in the penitentsT compartments, for example, beneath the respective sills 28- and 30, as shown in Figure 3-.

Each sensing, unit and 81 conprises an oscillator of the Hartley type, as shown in Figure 6, each oscillator comprising a pentode tube 82, for example, a tube of the 6AKS type, having an anode 83, a cathode 84, a control grid 85, a screen grid 86, and a shieid 37. As shown, shield 87 is connected to cathcde wire 38 in the usual manner. The cathode 84, connected to the wire 88, is connected to the center tap of a tani: inductance 89 by wire 8`8L Connected across the tani; inductance 39 is the tank capacitor 90. One terminal of the inductance 89 is connected through an adjusting capacitor 91 to the grid a resistor 92-' ofi relatively high value being connected across the capacitor 91, said. resistor having a resistance of 8.2 megohm's, for example.

The anode 83 is connected to the output wire 55. screen 86 is connected to the anode 33, as shown. A screen bypass condenser 95 is connected between th' screen' 36 and a wire. 96, said wire 96 being connected to the ground wire 47 by'n wire 97 Each oscillator tube82 has a filam'ent 93, the filaments being connected in parallel' by respective wires '99 and 100, said wires' being connected to the respective terminals of the' filament seconda'y 43' by respective wires 101 and 102,. as i'llustrated;

Connected to the grids of the respective oscillator tub'es 82, of sensing units80- and 81 are respective sensing conductors 103 and 104.. Connected to each sens-ing conductor are apair of sensing electrodes or antennae. Thus, a first sensingelectrode; 105 is Secured beneath the sill 28 and is connected toi the sensing wire 103 by a. wire 106. As shown in Figure 5 the wire 105 is substantially coextensive'in. length with the sill 28 and is secured beneath the forward edge. of said sill, so as to be in close capacitive relationship with the hands of a penitent resting on the sill; A similar. electrodeor antenna 107 is Secured' beneath and is substantially coextensive in width with the forward. edge of the` kneeling platform 2 7, the second` electrode 107 being connected by a wire to the sensing. wire' 103; The electrode. 107 is thus positioned so as to be in close capacitive' relationshp with the knees ofa penitent resting on the platform 27. The wires 106 and 108' will* also' be'in capacitive relationship with the-body of` a penitent occupying the Compartment 13.

The compartment 14 is similarly provided with an electrode 111 mounted Beneath the sill 30 and electrode 112 mounted ljeneaththe` platform 29, as shown in' Figure 3, said electrode being connected by respective wires 113 and 11-4 to the sensinglwire 104.

Thetank capacitors 90 are' of course of proper value to tune the tank inductors 89 to resonance under normal conditions. For example, the capacitors 90 may have a value of micromicrofarads and the tank inductors 89 may'have a value of 20microhenrys. The inductors 89 are preferably of toroidal Construction. The screen capacitances are of usual values, for example, have values of .01 microfarad. The adjusting capacitors are of conventional Construction and may have a range of values from between 8 to 50 micromicrofarads.

Under normal' conditions; namely, when the penitents* compartments are unoccuped and the power simply 35 is energized, the oscillators-in the sensing units 30 and St operate in their normal manner With low plate current and high plate voltage. Thus, under normal conditions, the current in the respective plate wires 56 and` 63 is low, and is'insufiicient to produce the voltagc drop across the resistors'55 and 62. needed to extinguish' the tubes 7 and 77. Howeven; when a penitent enters one of the compartments, for example, the. compartment 13, Capacity of the penitent's body to the electrodes a. 107, and to the wires 106 and.108" detunes the cscilatc-r, causingthe negativepotentialon grid 85 to decrease. This causes the plate current in the' oscillator tube'to increase and the' plate voltage to decrease. The increased plate The current increases the voltage drop across the resistor 55 to a value sufficient to lower the potential across the gas tube 71 enough to extinguish the gas tube, opening the circuit of the relay winding 65 and allowing the armature 66 of the relay to be released. When the armature 66 is released, it engages the contact 67 and energizes the penitenfis lamp 33. Thus, under normal conditions, with low plate current in wire 56, the voltage drop across the resistor 55 is relatively small, and the potential across the gas tube 71 is high, whereby the tube conducts, and whereby the winding 65 of the relay 6 is energized, holding the armature 66 away from the contact 67.

When a penitent enters the compartment 13, the oscillator in the sensing unit 80 becomes detuned, causing the plate current of the tube 82 to increase, whereby the potential across the gas tube 71 drops, causing the extinction of the tube and the deenergization of the relay 64. Similarly, the occupancy of the pentenfs compartment 14 will cause the plate current of the oscillator in the sensing unit 81 to increase and will cause the gas tube 77 to become extinguished, deenergizing the relay 72, and allowing its armature 75 to engage the contact 74, whereby the penitent's lamp 32 Will become energized.

The inductors 89 are preferably of the toroid type because toroid inductors extend the sensitivity of the antenna feelers or electrodes 1%5, 107, 111 and 112. The use of gas tubes, such as the tubes 71 and 77 provides positive switching, high sensitivity and stable operation. Ordinarily, the chassis ground wire 47 is connected to earth ground, which helps to eliminate any possible chatter of the relays due to 60 cycle field pickup.

The sensitivity is controlled by adjusting the variable capacitors 91 in the sensing units 3% and 81. The sensitivity may be very accurately adjusted by inserting a milliameter in series with the relay windings 65 and 73.

As will be readily understood, when a priest enters the center compartment 12 for the purpose of hearing confessions, he closes the switch 38, which places the system in operation, as well as illuminating the green confessor's lamp 31 over the door 25. The lamp 31 remains on constantly while the system is in operation. When a penitent enters one of the compartments 13 or 14, and kneels on the platform 27 or 29 with his hands on the shelf or sill 28 or 30, facing the screened window 17 or 19, his proximity to the antenna electrodes actuates the oscillator associated with the compartment in the manner above described to cause the red light 32 or 33 above the doorway of the penitenfs compartment to become energized. The lamp will remain energized until the penitent leaves the compartment. Thus anyone desiring to use the confessonal will observe immediately whether or not a confessor is present in the confessor's compartment 12 and whether or not a penitent s com partment is available for use.

Obviously, the confessional of the present invention may employ only one penitent s compartment, using the same sensing elements as above described, and thus 6 eliminating the use of one signal light, sensing unit and antenna electrode system.

While a specific embodiment of an improved confessional signalling system has been disclosed in the fore going description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a confessional, a confessor's enclosure, a penitent's enclosure adjacent the confessor's enclosure, a first signal lamp on the exterior of the confessor`s enclosure, a second signal lamp on the exterior of the penitent's enclosure, a source of current, an oscillator Operating normally with low output current and having a frequencycontrolling, normally tuned tank circuit including inductance and capacity, an electrode mounted in the penitent's enclosure and connected to said tank circuit, whereby to change the capacity in the tank circuit responsive to the presence of a person in the pentent's enclosure, and to thereby increase the output current of the oscillator, a normally-open current-responsive switch device connected in the oscillator output circuit, means controllingly connecting said switch device between said source of current and said second signal lamp, and a control circuit including further switch means in the confessor s enclosure connected between the source of current and the oscillator.

2. In a confessional, a confessor's enclosure, a penitent's enclosure adjacent the confessofs enclosure, a first signal lamp on the exterior of the confessofs enclosure, a second signal lamp on the exterior of the penitenfs enclosure, a source of current, an oscillator Operating normally with low output current and having a frequency-controlling, normally tuned tank circuit including inductance and capacity, an electrode mounted in the penitent's enclosure and connected to said tank circuit, whereby to change the capacity in the tank circuit responsive to the presence of a person in the penitenfis enclosure, and to thereby increase the output current of the oscillator, a normally-open, current-responsive switch device connected in the oscillator output circuit, means controllingly connecting said switch device between said source of current and said second signal lamp, a power supply device connected to said oscillator, circuit means connecting said power supply device and said second signal lamp to said source of current, and a main control switch mounted in said confessor's enclosure and connected in said last-named circuit means in a manner to simultaneously control said power supply and said second signal lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,385,607 Casson Sept. 25, 1945 2,488,8l5 Hailes Nov. 22, 1949 2,492,388 Martin Dec. 27, 1949 

